For the purposes of child support, a person over 19 is considered a child if they are unable, because of illness, disability or another reason, to obtain the necessaries of life or withdraw from the charge of their parents or guardians. The duty of a parent to provide child support past the age of 19 must be based on something more than a lifestyle choice on the part of the adult child to remain dependent on their parents.
While the pursuit of post-secondary education frequently qualifies as a reason to impose continuing support, “attendance at an educational institution” is not always sufficient. Courts consider a variety of factors to determine whether it is reasonable for a child to remain dependent on the support of their parents.